POOLSIDE EDIT-This Summer, We Take a Deep Dive into Palm Beach’s Pool and Perimeter Passions - The Palm Beaches Luxury Living & Lifestyles

16 Jul POOLSIDE EDIT-This Summer, We Take a Deep Dive into Palm Beach’s Pool and Perimeter Passions

Posted at 04:52h in Pools by Luxury Home Magazine

by Carolina Buia

A looking glass? A glistening, multi-gallon water sculpture? Or a fast- lane for one of mankind’s oldest workouts? Swimming pools are to South Florida what basements are to the Northeast. Essential. Whether private or public, almost every home or community has one. Take in the aerial view on your next descent to PBI airport and you’ll notice many shapes–and shades–of blue.

From laps of luxury to serene, cooling-off retreats, today’s pools and backyard environs combine lush elegance and technological savvy for the ultimate in modern living.

Pools are ingrained in both our landscape and imagination. The earliest swimming pool was allegedly built 5000 years ago in the city of Mohenjo-daro, in present day Pakistan. It was rectangular and believed to have been used for religious rituals. In Egypt, cave drawings depict swimmers from 2000 BC. And then, there were the Greek palaestra, open air gymnasiums, where pools were made for fitness and fraternizing.

“Pools have become a mandatory landscape element,” says Palm Beach’s acclaimed interior designer Scott Snyder. “Today, I prefer a round shape that makes you think of Walden pond or an elongated 10 by 50 lap pool, preferably done in long-lasting tile with small coping so that the lawn comes close to it. The 20 by 40 foot shape with light-blue finish is out. And if you’re fortunate to live on the water, build an infinity pool.”

To wit, new pools–infinity or not– have been experiencing a push back. “In the past you built close to the house,” says Fred Guerra, co-owner of Ocean Pools. “Since Covid, the trend has been to push pools further out from the house so that there is more entertaining space and better sun exposure.” According to Guerra, the hottest request is a sun shelf. It’s the perfect spot for tots to cool off and moms to sip Aperol spritzes from chaise lounges. “Other popular requests include color-changing LED lights that can be switched on with an app and high-tech water features,” adds Dale Bottcher, owner of Dale’s Decking and Pools. “Waterfalls and spillways not only add a meditative quality, but can dampen the din of neighbors, boats and trains.” Bottcher is currently building out many “champagne spas,” round or square hot tubs with 360-degrees of cascading water.

Beneath the surface, mid- to deep blue hues (and even dramatic black finishes) are all the rage. As a counterpoint, pavers in leathered white marble, sealed creamy travertine and limestone are popular deck materials. “Some customers go ultra modern and extend their inside porcelain floors out,” says Bottcher. “When sliding glass doors open it’s one continuous space.” But since porcelain is mud-set, Guerra says that labor costs will likely be higher.

Accenting the pool area, Palm Beachers are adding decorative pots filled with white and cream annuals and the occasional colorful bloom. Socrates Gemitizoylou, owner of The Willows Landscape, says that living walls redolent of bromeliads, orchids, anthuriums are also en vogue.

“Bare walls are a thing of the past,” adds Barbara Lewis, owner of The Lewis Design Group in Palm Beach and New York. The trend is lavish, layered greenery.” Lewis agrees that Covid was the catalyst for today’s explosion in outdoor design. “As we stay-cationed, we created outside living spaces through loggias, gazebos, fabulous tents, beautiful fans and outdoor kitchens.” Lewis says furniture and fabric companies followed suit, expanding their outdoor product ranges. “Every fabric house today has a performance line of textiles in all scale ranges and colors.”

With the pandemic in the rearview mirror, Palm Beach is now left with shiny new pools, bubbly spas and hanging gardens. Whether or not we care for a swim is beside the point, because it’s one heck of a glorious view!

Splendor in the Grass
Expert Notes From: MATT GAUDET, President of Ground F/X Environmental Services
Hedges: Clusia hedges are in, while ficus hedges are out. Clusia is hardier, needs less fertilizer and chemicals. It also attracts less pests. They can also be trimmed quarterly versus monthly.
Lawn: Artificial turf, once relegated to roadside mini-golf, has become so high-tech and realistic that many Palm Beachers are opting for it. There’s virtually no maintenance or need for chemicals or fertilizers. Aesthetically, it looks perfect all year round.
Trees: Grey wood palms do best in Palm Beach, including Foxtails, Christmas, and Montgomery palms. Make sure not to plant trees too close to the pool area where they can damage pavers and pool, along with posing a safety concern.

Outdoor Style with Bungalow Palm Beach

In 2020, partners Steven Wilburn and Shawn Fitzgerald decided to professionally join forces. Steven, a former Saks 5th Avenue Creative Director and Shawn, a former marketing executive in the spirits world, had just relocated to Palm Beach County. Identifying a niche for a curated furniture and accessories store, the duo created Bungalow Palm Beach, a spirited boutique that has become a favorite among Palm Beach County’s chicest residents. Bungalow Palm Beach specializes in high-end indoor and outdoor furniture, along with art, sculpture, and home decor. The concept has been such a hit that a second location just opened this year in Deep Creek Lake, Maryland, near Steven’s hometown.

Q: What’s new in outdoor living?
Steven: Companies have been pushing the envelope with technological advances. Many high-end lines are producing sofas that look and feel like they belong inside, and in fact it’s often hard to tell the difference. Furniture lines are using high-tech memory foam that is designed to drain water within minutes from sofas.

Shawn: Tables are being manufactured with aluminum legs that have been stamped to look and feel like actual wood grain. And porcelain table tops now mimic the look of marble, but without the headache. Chairs with organic shapes are made with what appears to be natural fibers and woven material. In fact, it’s high-tech PVC that can withstand the sun, salt and rain.

Q: What about trending colors and patterns, specifically in Palm Beach?
Shawn: Steven always says you marry the furniture but date the pillows. The color scheme for outdoor sofas and chairs is a neutral palette: Lots of whites, taupes, creams and tans. Dark colors are not popular in Florida, as they attract heat and can be uncomfortable to sit on. Blue used to be the statement color, but now we’re shifting to shades of green–be it sea glass, blue-greens, aquas and even dark greens.

Steven: Palm prints have given way to more subtle, sophisticated patterns and textures. Our Bungalow staff designers know just how to layer color and patterns through pillows, rugs, throws and sculptural accessories. The look is a sophisticated, Northern California coastal aesthetic.

Q: What makes Bungalow’s approach to design unique?
Shawn: We have a philosophy of informed selling. We forge and maintain personal relationships with the company owners of our highly curated furniture lines. We attend trade shows to stay current and offer different levels of design services. For example, many of our customers appreciate how we scale their outdoor space through house visits and floor plans. Steven’s experience at Saks, working with leading architects and creatives, brings an uncanny skill set. With just a few key pieces, he knows how to create a mood.

Q: That outdoor furniture piece that you absolutely cannot live without …
Steven: My comfy sofa for breezy, afternoon naps.
Shawn: My Anacara swivel glider relaxing with cocktail on hand.

Visit Luxury Home Magazine of The Palm Beaches to read more outdoor inspiration.